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Monday, July 26, 2010

Excuse me while I am distracted. Concentrating these days is difficult. I have visions of trail races, an ultra marathon man, a 2,700 ft. elevation gain over 20 miles, running at 9,000 feet of altitude and hoping I don’t crap myself, and falling down mountains because I am not a trail runner and I am clumsy.

If you have no clue what I’m talking about, click HERE. Just know that by this time next month, Dean Karnazes and I will be like this:

Not intertwined, per se, but just tight, bonded. BFFs. If only.

I mean, seriously.

Since Thursday I have felt an urgency to start running up mountains. Must be something about knowing I will need to do this in 28 days along side of the trail running star of the universe.

Today Ken and I went out for a trail run west of Boulder. 10 miles. 1,300 ft. elevation gain (in the first 5 miles nonetheless!). Hard as shit. And shit I did, because I usually do when I exert myself. A friend lent me some TP on the trail. A few deer watched as I tried to clean myself up. What must they have been thinking? She is tarnishing our vista. Bambi, do not let her be an example to you. Hopefully one day I’ll remember to bring my own paper. Really, I should just carry a toilet. They have those portable ones these days you know. I’m sure I could make a backpack to fit it.

My next climbing endeavor will be the famed Magnolia Road. Ever read “Running With the Buffaloes” about the University of Colorado cross country team? This is where they trained. The road/trail starts at 8,200 feet and climbs 7.5 miles (1,800 ft.) to the gorgeous Peak to Peak Highway.

Then you run down. So, 15 miles total of altitude and hill training. Who’s in?

Today, while reading up on how to get to the start point, I found this comment about the run:

“I live along Magnolia Road. The views are pretty darn nice and you have a good chance of seeing elk herds this time of year. Please take a dump in town before you come up to go for a run.”

And even though he didn’t win, I have to give kudos to Fitmacdaddy who made me laugh when he commented, “Poor sportsmanship: I was once farted on by a chick in a cheetah skirt. Smelled like apple cinnamon.” I do believe he was referring to me…

I finally have something to share that fits your world. I was having the annual physical and talk went to bowel movements - three a day, in my case - which sounding excessive, led me to write down what I ate in a day. It worked out to 75 grams of fiber - oatmeal, apples, broccoli, popcorn, apricots, raisins, lentils, onions - and the doc said, "You must be a treat to share an elevator with."

Trail running is a whole different game for sure! but its also a whole different sense of accomplishment and I'm super excited that you get to share that with Ultramarathon Man himself!! Again...wow those Abs!

Holy crapola! (No pun intended) You and Dean, BFFs. That is unbelieveable! I saw him at the San Francisco marathon expo and almost peed myself because I was so star struck. Yes, I am a total nerd. HAVE FUN with the Deanster. (I heard he likes to be called that BTW)

I want to run Magnolia! Well, problem is, I'm still broken from the Cleveland marathon a few months ago (sad story). Once my stupid ITB gets its act together, Magnolia is totally on my list of places to run. When you run it, let us know how it goes! I hear it's killer!